dshughes

2002 W208 Cabriolet. 53,000 miles.

Couple weeks ago, started occasionally lurching when put into R or D, and would be locked into 2nd gear, while gauge reads D all the time, and using the tiptronic doesn't shift or make the indicator change from D either. Turning it off and on always fixes it until 6-8 starts later. It's always left in S mode.

Then it started having problems starting, about 1 out of 4 times. It tries for about 1/2 second then just nothing. It takes 2-4 tries to finally engage and it cranks right up without issue. When that happens there are usually at least 2 Malfunction warnings (mostly SOS). Check engine light is not ever staying on, by the way....

Thanks in advance for any help...

Ausmbtech

The holding gears can be explained by a low oil level
Combine that with intermitantly not starting then it's more likely an electrical fault (valvebody electrical plate, oil in the transmission wiring harness/ECU or selector module fault)

Get to the transmission control unit and check if transmission oil has made it's way upto the ECU. If it has then disassemble the ECU, clean it and then replace the wiring harness and the elctrical plug on the transmission.

dshughes

Had the battery replaced and all the problems went away. Low voltage put the tranny into limp mode of 2nd gear only. That was also the reason for intermittent trouble starting. Thankfully, it wasn't the whole valve body mess that I've read about. Thanks for the reply!